BACKGROUND: Survival prediction systems such as the Palliative Prognostic Index (PPI), which includes the Palliative Performance Scale (PPS), are used to estimate survival for terminally ill patients. Oncologists are, however, less familiar with the PPS in comparison with the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS). This study was designed to validate a simple survival prediction system for oncologists, the Performance Status-Based Palliative Prognostic Index (PS-PPI), which is a modified form of the PPI based on the ECOG PS...

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the mechanisms, predisposing factors and prognosis of the intraoperative vertebral subluxation (VS) during pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) for thoracolumbar kyphosis secondary to ankylosing spondylitis (AS). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: VS is one of the most daunting challenges that surgeons encounter during PSO closure, especially in AS patients with ankylosed and mostly osteoporotic spine...

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data. OBJECTIVE: As an initial effort to address readmissions after lumbar discectomy, reasons for hospital readmission are identified and discussed. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Lumbar discectomy is a commonly performed procedure. The Affordable Care Act codifies penalties for hospital readmissions. New quality-based reimbursements tied to readmissions call for a better understanding of the causes of readmission after procedures such as lumbar discectomy...

BACKGROUND: As the clinical use of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose PET-computed tomography (F-FDG PET-CT) has increased, the incidental finding of F-FDG uptake with subsequent diagnosis of advanced neoplasm at colorectum has increased. The aim of this study is to analyze the characteristics and risk factors of advanced colorectal neoplasm incidentally detected by F-FDG PET-CT. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent colonoscopy because of an incidental finding of F-FDG uptake at the colorectum from January 2006 to January 2015 at Yeungnam University Hospital were reviewed retrospectively...

OBJECTIVE: The term frailty is frequently used during decision-making in transcatheter heart valve procedures. Nevertheless, frailty is still measured by eyeballing rather than by using standardized frailty assessments. In a previous study, we developed a frailty score in a cardiac surgical patient population including patients, who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Here, we present the results from the subsequent validation study focusing on the TAVR cohort. METHODS: One hundred thirty patients underwent TAVR...

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is a common condition in the emergency department (ED). Lactate measurement is an important part of management: arterial lactate (A-LACT) measurement is the gold standard. There is increasing use of peripheral venous lactate (PV-LACT); however, there is little research supporting the interchangeability of the two measures.If PV-LACT has good agreement with A-LACT, it would significantly reduce patient discomfort and the risks of arterial sampling for a large group of acutely unwell patients, while allowing faster and wider screening, with potential reduced costs to the healthcare system...

In this study, healthy women and those at high-risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes (pre-eclampsia, fetal growth restriction, gestational diabetes) were selected to assess the effect of fatty acid supplementation. The purpose of this paper is to report two novel findings (i) at recruitment the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) for erythrocyte oleic acid predicted spontaneous delivery at 34 weeks gestation (ROC=0.926 n=296) for all women entering the study. Further analysis revealed oleic and all monounsaturated fatty acids were similarly predictive with or without a supplement during the pregnancy...

We conducted a systematic review regarding the efficacy and outcome of endovascular treatment of infected iliofemoral arterial pseudoaneurysms with covered stents. 35 cases were identified, including 5 own. 22 pseudoaneurysms were located in the femoral area and 13 in the iliac vessels. The most commonly reported complaints were pulsatile groin mass (40 %), sepsis (37.1 %), active bleeding (31.4 %), and groin infection with purulent discharge (17.1 %). S. aureus (65.7 %) and Streptococcus species (22.9 %) were the most common microbes isolated...

BACKGROUND: Accurate prediction of mortality for patients admitted to the intensive care units (ICUs) is an important component of medical care. However, little is known about the role of multimorbidity in predicting end of life for high-risk and vulnerable patients. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to derive and validate a multimorbidity risk model in an attempt to predict all-cause mortality at 6 and 12 months posthospital discharge. METHODS: This is a retrospective, observational, clinical cohort study...

Effective anticoagulation regimens are needed to reduce risks of thrombosis and bleeding in animal models of ventricular assist device to verify its hemocompatibility, biologic safety and reliability. This study is to develop a validated anticoagulation procedure for a sheep model to test the newly developed CH-VAD. CH-VAD models were established in six healthy sheep by constructing blood bypass of left ventricle → ventricular assist device → descending aorta. Heparin infusion was used during operation and in the prior 4 days to maintain activated clotting time 1...

Objective: to analyze the care of self of female nurses and the power relations established by them in the care of other women. Method: integrative review of literature published between 2005 and 2015. There were 25 publications in the sample. Results: qualitative state of the art with reference domain of a liberating perspective, based on humanization, autonomy and empowerment as a risk reduction strategy in the practice of care to women...

Detailed measurements of physical, chemical and biological dynamics in groundwater are key to understanding the important processes in place and their influence on water quality - particularly when used for drinking water. Measuring temporal bacterial dynamics at high frequency is challenging due to the limitations in automation of sampling and detection of the conventional, cultivation-based microbial methods. In this study, fully automated online flow cytometry was applied in a groundwater system for the first time in order to monitor microbial dynamics in a groundwater extraction well...

Currently, there is no established occupational risk factor for prostate cancer. However, in the 1980s, a hospital-based case-control study in the greater Dortmund area showed an elevated risk for hard coal miners and, based on few cases, for painters and varnishers. Therefore, approximately 10 yr later, a similar study regarding prostate cancer was performed in this area. In total, 292 patients with prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy and 313 controls who underwent transurethral resection of a benign prostatic hyperplasia were investigated by questionnaire...

The aim of the present study was to assess the safety of myomectomy for intramural fibroids during caesarean section. A retrospective study of 63 women who underwent myomectomy during caesarean section and 63 women who underwent caesarean delivery without myomectomy was conducted. The study group was divided into subgroups according to the volume of fibroids and total incision count. The volume of fibroids, the preoperative and postoperative haemoglobin values and the difference between them, incidence of haemorrhage and blood transfusion, duration of operation and postoperative fever of patients were investigated...

Pleural effusion after hepatectomy is associated with significant morbidity and prolonged hospital stays. Several studies have addressed the risk factors for postoperative pleural effusion. However, there are no researches concerning the role of the initial 12-h operative fluid volume. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the initial 12-h operative fluid volume during liver resection is an independent risk factor for pleural effusion after hepatectomy. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 470 patients consecutively undergoing elective hepatectomy between January 2011 and December 2012...

Job hazard analyses were conducted to assess exposure to musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) risk factors in seven workers of three dry-cleaning establishments. In accordance with the Washington State Ergonomics Rule, the analyses were performed in two separate steps: (1) observation and checklist approaches were made to identify a "caution zone job" in the seven workers' pressing operations across the three shops; and (2) detailed posture and motion analyses were undertaken to determine a "MSD hazard" in one worker's operation using a video technique...

BACKGROUND: Occupational risk management is known as a catalyst in generating superior returns for all stakeholders on a sustainable basis. A number of companies in Ghana implemented health and safety measures adopted from international companies to ensure the safety of their employees. However, there exist great threats to employees' safety in these companies. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the level of compliance of Occupational Health and Safety management systems and standards set by international and local legislation in power producing companies in Ghana...

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess plasma levels of endothelium- and heart-associated microRNAs (miRNAs) miR-126 and miR-499, respectively, using quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. METHODS: A two-step analysis was conducted on 75 patients undergoing off-pomp coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Five biomarkers of inflammation and cardiac injury were assessed in addition to the above-mentioned miRNAs. RESULTS: Plasma concentrations of miRNAs were found to be significantly correlated with plasma levels of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) (miR-499, r 0...